| answer text |
<p><del class="ministerial">It has not proved possible to respond to this question
in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with
the Member.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">As clearly set out in the Government’s
published response to the Voluntary National Review of the Sustainable Development
Goal 1, we are committed to delivering a sustainable, long-term solution to reducing
poverty through welfare reforms that ensure that the benefits system works with the
tax system and the labour market to support employment and higher pay. There is clear
evidence that full-time work dramatically reduces the risk of poverty for working
families; for example, there is only a 7% chance of a child being in poverty (relative,
after housing costs) if both parents work full-time compared with 66% for children
in (two-parent) families with only part-time work. </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"><ins
class="ministerial"><ins class="ministerial">Although not directly referenced, our
approach to reducing poverty is already reflected in our Single Departmental Plan
which sets out how we plan to achieve our key strategic objectives including delivering
an effective labour market strategy that boosts employment among under-represented
and disadvantaged groups and facilitating progression; and consolidating the delivery
of Universal Credit so that it works for everyone.</ins></ins></ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"><ins
class="ministerial"><ins class="ministerial"><ins class="ministerial"><ins class="ministerial">Universal
Credit, at the heart of our reforms, has already shown that it is more effective in
getting people into work than the legacy benefits it replaces. Nine months into a
UC claim, 40% of claimants are working for an employer in a paid role, compared with
only 23% at the start of their claim. This is a key approach to provide a sustainable
solution to reducing poverty.</ins></ins></ins></ins></ins></p><p> </p><p> </p>
|
|
